What kind of grocery shopper are you?

When you go grocery shopping, you probably follow the same steps each time you go. Some people like to make lists and menu plans, others wing it and decide what to make by seeing what's looking good in the produce and meat aisles. There are careful label readers who evaluate the nutritional value and others who never look at the… read more

How to care for wooden kitchen tools

One of my favorite kitchen items is a hefty Boos cutting board I received as a gift over 15 years ago. It has seen nearly daily use and even, if I'm being honest, some abuse. Despite being in constant use next to my cooktop, it is still going strong while a few plastic cutting boards have come and gone during… read more

Happy Birthday to us!

Today is the 15th anniversary of the launch of Eat Your Books. Here is the first post I put up on the blog on our launch day - rather optimistically since on that day our only members were friends and family. Looking back at that day I really didn't imagine I'd still be doing this 15 years later - not… read more

Food news antipasto

Although we reported on food issues plaguing the Paris Olympics, the news from the Games is not all bad. For starters, Simone Biles shook off an apparent injury to qualify for the all-around gymnastics competition - not too shabby for the oldest American gymnast to qualify for the Olympics since 1952. Then there is cookbook author extraordinaire Ina Garten, who… read more

Olympic food venues face problems

The 2024 Olympics are underway in Paris, and there is already controversy over the food being served to the athletes, or rather, the lack of food. Teams are saying that the four restaurants serving the athletes' village are running out of food, especially high protein items like eggs and chicken. There are also reports that some of the meat being… read more

Catching up with Asma Khan

Asma Khan is the creator of Darjeeling Express, a London restaurant that began fifteen years ago as a dinner for 12 guests at home - Indian food, lovingly cooked from family recipes going back generations. The restaurant is run by an all-female staff, and Khan eschews the traditional authoritarian style of kitchen brigades, opting instead for a quieter, more collaborative… read more

Some good news about coffee

It can seem like every article about climate change and agriculture is doom and gloom about the effects of severe weather events like droughts, floods, extreme heat, insect infestations, diseases, and so on. However, among the negativity there exist a few bright spots. Recently that happened with reports of a new experiment on how it may be possible to "climate-proof"… read more

Could Kamala be the best food candidate?

In case you've been vacationing in an internet-free zone and didn't hear the news, here it is: on Sunday Joe Biden exited the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris. She has since secured enough pledged convention delegates to lock in the nomination, so it looks like Kamala (she prefers to use her first name) will be on the… read more

Food news antipasto

Australian online bookseller Booktopia, which has been in business since 2004, has been placed into Voluntary Administration, which is similar to US receivership or bankruptcy. Orders have been temporarily suspended while the reorganization or sale of its business is completed. If you are a customer with outstanding gift cards or orders placed prior to 3 July 2024, please visit this… read more

Why freezing your bread could make it healthier

Bread experts have long cautioned against storing bread in the refrigerator, noting that it can negatively affect the texture of the loaf, especially with rustic breads. However, freezing bread is an excellent storage method, and recent research suggests that not only does freezing keep bread from spoiling but it can also provide health benefits. While it may seem strange that… read more

Should mocktails be off limits for kids?

The mocktail trend shows no sign of slowing down as companies develop more and more products tailored to people who want a tasty drink sans the alcohol and its effects. Not only are there alcohol-free wines, gin, whisky, tequila, and other spirits, canned ready-to-drink mocktails are popping up on store shelves too. Most US states have no age restrictions on… read more

Food news antipasto

It's heading toward peak tomato season in much of the Northern Hemisphere, but some chefs have found clever ways to keep tomatoes on the menu all year. Well, at least the appearance of tomatoes appears in these restaurants. Eater's Bettina Makalintal explains the trompe l'oeil tomato trend with fool-the-eye creations both savory and sweet. New Orleans-style beignets from Williams-Sonoma Breakfast… read more

Getting to know masa

A staple of Mexican cuisine, masa - the dough made from nixtamalized corn that has been ground to a coarse flour - is getting renewed interest from chefs, according to Food and Wine contributing editor Khushbu Shah. Masa's importance to Mexican food cannot be overestimated. Corn is critical to the national identity, dating back at least to the Mayans, who… read more

The latest travel trend is grocery store tourism

For once I can say I was ahead of the game. Wherever I travel, one of the must-do events is go to a grocery store, whether it's a different supermarket brand or an obscure specialty shop. I love to see the unique products, check out how the prices compare, and hopefully snag a few items to take back home. Currently… read more

Food news antipasto

While much of the Northern Hemisphere swelters in the wake of heat advisories, in the Southern Hemisphere the winter is a little more chilly than normal. With heating costs soaring, it makes sense to look for ways to stay warm that don't involve turning up the thermostat. One thing you can do is to eat these five warming foods that… read more

Can you eat your way to fewer mosquito bites?

Spending a day puttering in the garden or enjoying an alfresco meal in the backyard are delightful summertime activities - at least until the mosquitos come out. They can ruin a lovely sunny day quicker than a popup rain shower. Bug sprays can help you avoid getting bitten, but they often contain chemicals that may be harmful and they usually… read more

Le Creuset Factory to Table Sale

The Le Creuset Factory to Table sale is now live both online and instore and there are so many great deals to be had! If it is on your wish list, the Le Creuset piece in probably on sale! Dutch ovens, braisers, stoneware pieces, dishes and more. One of my favorite pieces is the oval skillet - pictured below -… read more

What’s the best produce (or other food) you ever had?

Over the last month in the Member Forum, EYB Members have been posting about the best produce they ever had. Member whitewoods kicked off the topic by recounting the best corn on the cob and best home-grown tomato they had ever eaten. Other Members chimed in, naming morel mushrooms, sugar snap peas, Alphonso mangoes, and the joys of growing your… read more

Food news antipasto

You've heard of Detroit pizza, Chicago pizza, New York pizza and maybe even St. Louis pizza. However, there's a new kid on the block vying for the title of best pizza: Sydney pizza. Bianca Hrovat writes that Sydney has developed its own style featuring multicultural influences, "flavoursome fermented bases, leopard-spotted crusts, and wildly creative toppings." (Subscription or free registration may… read more

The evolution of queer cookbooks

In 2024, seeing a cookbook that celebrates queer culture wouldn't cause anyone to so much as bat an eyelash, but that has not always been the case. Decades ago, a queer cookbook would have been coded or you would have to know that the author was part of the LGBTQ+ community to understand it as such. A lot of people… read more

The “little luxuries” trend

Supermarket checkout aisles are always filled with impulse buy items - chocolate bars and candy, cold drinks, and other things to tempt us as we wait to be checked out. Some retailers have expanded on this idea in times of high inflation when people are hesitating to put larger items into their carts, including the CEO of Whole Foods who… read more

The best way to clean oil stains

Since I wrote about dishwashing liquid yesterday, I thought it would be appropriate to follow up with another post about cleaning. I'm a messy cook and often forget to don an apron so I end up with spills and splatters on my clothing. Few things are worse than a grease or oil stain, which is why I was keenly interested… read more

Don’t go changing those kitchen fragrances

There are some kitchen scents that I find nearly intoxicating, such as onions and garlic sweating in olive oil, baking bread, and ripe peaches as they are being sliced. I must admit that I also like the smell of dishwashing liquid as the sink fills with suds - at least until recently. A few months ago, the brand I used… read more

Food news antipasto

Many fans of The Bear probably have a crush on the lead character, played by Jeremy Allen White. He's incredibly buff, which some critics say is unrealistic for the role. Is Carmy too fit to be a chef? That's the question Amanda Gabriele put to several industry experts, including chefs, and the reviews are mixed. While chefs have a reputation… read more

Pride Month: How some cookbook stores are celebrating

In the United States and most parts of the world, Pride Month is celebrated in June which is dedicated to the celebration and commemoration of LGBTQIA+ pride. Several of our favorite cookbook stores have events planned this month. Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks is part of the Lower East Side Pride Bookstore Crawl in New York City. This coming Saturday, June 29th,… read more
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